OK? The fact is: it's not a popularity poll issue. It's what the people of the border patrol say is necessary to control people coming into this country illegally.

Perhaps you forgot that we live in democracy (or at least a democratic republic), not a third world military dictatorship. The border patrol does not make our policy. Our elected representatives do and right now Schumer and Pelosi are listening to the will of the people. Further, there is no consensus of opinion regarding the best method of border security, and, even if there was, it's up to Congress to prioritize what we spend money on. No amount of political grandstanding by you and Trump will change those facts.

I think you've forgotten that flock is talking about the Border Patrol personnel that Donny hand-picked to serve as his backdrop. So of course flock considers their position more credible and better informed than that of pretty much everyone else on the face of the planet. --Bob

_________________"Question with boldness even the existence of a God; because, if there be one, he must more approve of the homage of reason than that of blindfolded fear." Thomas Jefferson

The border protections that some of the Democrats supported were based on need and terrain (and were also a compromise based on some much harsher alternative proposed legislation) and not the type of Great Wall of China that Trump envisions. And as anyone who knows about the border will tell you, it's already riddled with tunnels in the San Diego and El Paso areas where they run drugs through there.

Trump's wall isn't about security; it's all about his ego, as he demonstrated when he stormed out of the meeting today. If he was concerned about security, he would worry more about the damage he's causing by the shutdown in terms of air traffic safety and also existing border patrols, both of which are being harmed considerably by what's going on.

Let's not forget all the food inspections that are no longer happening due to the shutdown. If there's an outbreak of food-borne illness soon, it'll be squarely on Donny's shoulders. --Bob

You are an absolute hoot!

_________________The only thing we have to fear, is fear itself. And clowns.

The border protections that some of the Democrats supported were based on need and terrain (and were also a compromise based on some much harsher alternative proposed legislation) and not the type of Great Wall of China that Trump envisions. And as anyone who knows about the border will tell you, it's already riddled with tunnels in the San Diego and El Paso areas where they run drugs through there.

Trump's wall isn't about security; it's all about his ego, as he demonstrated when he stormed out of the meeting today. If he was concerned about security, he would worry more about the damage he's causing by the shutdown in terms of air traffic safety and also existing border patrols, both of which are being harmed considerably by what's going on.

Let's not forget all the food inspections that are no longer happening due to the shutdown. If there's an outbreak of food-borne illness soon, it'll be squarely on Donny's shoulders. --Bob

You are an absolute hoot!

And he's wrong; they are exempt.

_________________I may not have gone where I intended to go, but I think I have ended up where I needed to be. - Douglas Adams (1952 - 2001)

Si fractum non sit, noli id reficere.

Teach a child to be polite and courteous in the home and, when he grows up, he'll never be able to drive in New Jersey.

I didn't realize the State of the Union is a national special security event. (Apparently that's a new policy, but it makes sense.) You shouldn't give unpaid Secret Service and DHS employees all that extra work.

Though the letter sounds like a polite request, Majority Leader Hoyer says that Pelosi's decision is final.

I didn't realize the State of the Union is a national special security event. (Apparently that's a new policy, but it makes sense.) You shouldn't give unpaid Secret Service and DHS employees all that extra work.

Though the letter sounds like a polite request, Majority Leader Hoyer says that Pelosi's decision is final.

Worried about her security? That's not ironic, at all.

_________________The only thing we have to fear, is fear itself. And clowns.

No doubt the Secret Service and DHS can handle it. But she doesn't want to give employees, already working hard without pay, an additional non-essential task. You can disagree with an agency's policies and still care about the workers. It's like opposing the Iraq war but supporting the troops.

I have an alternative: A bare bones address with just Trump, a couple of White House staff, members of Congress and a C-Span camera crew. It wouldn't be a national special security event, and Capitol Police could handle security. The empty gallery would be a visual reminder of the shutdown.

I have an alternative: A bare bones address with just Trump, a couple of White House staff, members of Congress and a C-Span camera crew. It wouldn't be a national special security event, and Capitol Police could handle security. The empty gallery would be a visual reminder of the shutdown.

This post is meant to be non-political, but if Trump could talk for ten minutes about one topic from the Oval Office, then couldn't he just as easily talk for an hour on the State of the Union. And not just Trump but any president. Do we really need to fly dozens of people into Washington to sit in the gallery and take a bow and then go through the show of people on one party wildly applauding while the other party looks uncomfortable and sits on its hands.

The State of the Union Address is now far more about posturing and politicking and showmanship than about reporting on the State of the Union and the President's plans for the upcoming year. And that's regardless of who is President.

Here's the Constitutional provision:

Quote:

The President “shall from time to time give to the Congress Information of the State of the Union, and recommend to their Consideration such measures as he shall judge necessary and expedient.”

If a written report could satisfy that requirement in the 1800s, then a televised message (perhaps with CC sent to each member of Congress) should satisfy that in the 2000s.

It didn't take long for at least one Republican in the new House minority to desert the sinking ship. Rep. Tom Marino of PA's 12th district is resigning for unspecified business reasons, effective next week. The announcement came two weeks into his fifth term (although he was redistricted from the 10th into the 12th in 2018). Since Marino was just re-elected with 66% of the vote, odds are that the district will stay Republican. Under PA law, the parties pick the nominees for the special election, so there are no primaries.

It didn't take long for at least one Republican in the new House minority to desert the sinking ship. Rep. Tom Marino of PA's 12th district is resigning for unspecified business reasons, effective next week. The announcement came two weeks into his fifth term (although he was redistricted from the 10th into the 12th in 2018). Since Marino was just re-elected with 66% of the vote, odds are that the district will stay Republican. Under PA law, the parties pick the nominees for the special election, so there are no primaries.

It's rumored that he's going to work for a drug company as a lobbyist.

_________________I may not have gone where I intended to go, but I think I have ended up where I needed to be. - Douglas Adams (1952 - 2001)

Si fractum non sit, noli id reficere.

Teach a child to be polite and courteous in the home and, when he grows up, he'll never be able to drive in New Jersey.

As the Shutdown was going on, Nancy Pelosi asked me to give the State of the Union Address. I agreed. She then changed her mind because of the Shutdown, suggesting a later date. This is her prerogative - I will do the Address when the Shutdown is over. I am not looking for an alternative venue for the SOTU Address because there is no venue that can compete with the history, tradition and importance of the House Chamber. I look forward to giving a “great” State of the Union Address in the near future!